Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Brent Stratton was recently introduced as Bakersfield’s new police chief, taking over for Greg Terry who is set to retire at the end of April. In a recent interview, Stratton discussed his top priorities, including reducing gun violence, addressing interpersonal homicides and domestic violence, and improving street safety. He also addressed budget constraints, community policing efforts, and the department’s ongoing state oversight process.

Why it matters

As a major California city, Bakersfield’s police department plays a crucial role in public safety. Stratton’s appointment and his stated priorities provide insight into the challenges and goals for law enforcement in the region, which could have broader implications for how the city addresses crime and community relations.

The details

Stratton said the department is committed to responsible spending despite budget challenges, noting that he will look for ways to be more efficient and effective with taxpayer dollars. He also emphasized the importance of community partnerships, saying the department cannot solve all problems on its own. Regarding state oversight, Stratton said the monitoring process has made the department stronger, though he acknowledged they don’t always agree on everything.

Brent Stratton was introduced as Bakersfield’s new police chief on Friday, March 6, 2026.Greg Terry, the outgoing police chief, is slated to retire at the end of April 2026.
The players

Brent Stratton

Bakersfield’s new police chief, taking over for Greg Terry who is retiring.

Greg Terry

The outgoing police chief of Bakersfield, who is retiring at the end of April 2026.

Christian Clegg

The Bakersfield City Manager, who noted that the city wanted to consider out-of-town candidates for the police chief role.

Blake Moore

Bakersfield’s Assistant Police Chief, who has attended the FBI National Academy under the previous police chief’s leadership.

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What they’re saying

“There’s never a shortage of challenges, but we always want to make sure that we’re being efficient with our dollars and being as effective as we can. And so it’s always a good exercise to be able to look at things top to bottom and be able to make sure that we’re being good stewards of the money and taxpayer dollars that are coming in.”

— Brent Stratton, Bakersfield Police Chief (turnto23.com)

“It’s very rare that in communities, police departments have almost 100% of the people that live and work in the community where they police. So community policing is something that means something to us. We live here, we work here.”

— Brent Stratton, Bakersfield Police Chief (turnto23.com)

“Being able to work with the monitoring group and with the Department of Justice has made our department better in a lot of different ways. We certainly don’t always agree on everything, but we agree on where we want to go.”

— Brent Stratton, Bakersfield Police Chief (turnto23.com)

What’s next

Stratton will officially take over as Bakersfield’s police chief at the end of April 2026 when Greg Terry retires.

The takeaway

Stratton’s focus on fiscal responsibility, community partnerships, and transparency in the face of ongoing state oversight suggests he is committed to rebuilding trust and improving public safety in Bakersfield. His appointment comes at a critical time as the city grapples with challenges like gun violence and domestic abuse.